Queen’s Garden/Navajo Loop Trail, Bryce Canyon National Park

Hike 24 of my 52 Hike Challenge was one of the highlights of the trip so far, and is widely known as the “World’s Best 3-Mile Hike”. Welcome to the Queens-Navajo Trail in Bryce Canyon National Park.

Hoodoos at eye level as we walk down into the canyon

Heading down into the Canyon

This hike begins at Sunrise Point (or you can start at Sunset Point and follow the Rim Trail to do a complete loop). From Sunrise Point the trail descends quickly into the canyon, offering incredible views.

Erosion over different rock types creates geologic wonders like this balancing rock

Hoodoos and rock formations

Eric getting a better look at the canyon from a rock peninsula

Starting the hike at Sunrise Point

This section of the loop was like being in a geology museum. We had an up close look at the hoodoos, windows, fins and other rock formations created by weather, erosion and frost wedging (the breaking of rock when water in cracks and joints expands as it freezes).

Hoodoos from inside the canyon

Hoodoos from inside the canyon

Hoodoos from inside the canyon

Hoodoos and eroded rock formations

Walking through the hoodoos on our way down into the canyon

Balancing rocks

The hoodoos we had only looked down on are now rising up above us as we hike downward

Surrounded by towering rock formations at the bottom of the trail

Narrow rock walls along the trail

Hoodoos from inside the canyon

Hoodoos from inside the canyon

The canyon floor was surprisingly green after traveling through barren rock on the way down. I suspect this is because water flows down to this valleyed area to nourish the plants. We especially loved these twisted tree trunks that looked cool and provided a nice bench on which to take a shady break.

A sea of green breaks up the nonstop rocks at the bottom of the Queen’s Garden Trail

Our favorite twisty trees

We were lucky to have a bright, sunny day with no threat of rain, even though we visited during monsoon season. The canyon can be an extremely dangerous flash flood zone when it rains. We got used to carefully scanning the weather before hiking in Utah due to this very dangerous occurrence.

The trees grow where they want to, even if that’s in the middle of the trail!

Rock window

Approaching Wall Street

We chose to return to the Rim via Wall Street on the Navajo Loop Trail. Wall Street is a famous slot canyon featuring a set of switchbacks winding through narrow rock fins.

Cool guy Eric by a rock window

Close to the top of Wall Street. The climb was a bit more difficult at the high elevation.

Entering Wall Street

The narrow fins that form the sides of Wall Street

The narrow fins that form the sides of Wall Street

Hiking up Wall Street was such an experience for me. I couldn’t help but think about how much things can change in just a few short years. Five years prior to this hike I was living and working on Wall Street in NYC. Fast forward to this hike and I was in a completely different Wall Street with much different goals and experiences behind me. Hiking is known as a great way to meditate and contemplate and the symbolism of this place’s name made it even more impactful.

As we emerged from the canyon and back onto the Rim we were treated to a nice view of the trail and Thor’s Hammer, one of the most famous hoodoos in the park.

Made it to the top, overlooking the trail, Thor’s Hammer and Grand Staircase-Escalante National Monument in the background

RIP Sentinel Hoodoo (11/29/2016)

Make sure to carry enough water when hiking this trails, especially on a hot day, as there is no water source available on this trail. And have a little rest and relaxation when you’re finished!

Have you hiked in Bryce Canyon? Tell me about it in the comments!